results 1903

Northbrook Results

For a complete listing visit the Results Index

March 2019

• Cleevewold 14
• Peterborough 4 Seasons Series 10k
• Dorney Lake 20-Mile Marathon Prep
• Temple Newsam Daffodil Dash Marathon
• GoRun 5k (Coventry Festival of Running)
• Coventry Half-Marathon
• Ashby 20
• Midland Women’s 6-Stage & Men’s 12-Stage Road Relay Championships, Sutton Park
• Gloucester 20
• Notts 20
• Stafford Half-Marathon
• Milton Keynes 20
• Milton Keynes Half-Marathon
• Oundle 20
• Hardmoors 55 (50)
• Fission 20:20
• Draycote Half-Marathon
• Fradley 10k
• Larmer Race Weekend
• Draycote Water 10k
• Haworth Hobble
• The Belvoir Challenge 2019
• Berkhamsted Half-Marathon
• Newport Half-Marathon
• Centurion Grand Prix 5 Mile
• Warwick Half-Marathon
• Carding Mill Canter
• Welcome Ultra

Cleevewold 14 – 31 March

Cleevewold is a 14 mile (ish) trail race that’s not flat (2300ft elevation), and tends to suit mountain goats rather than hill flatteners like me. But, it’s great. I would recommend this event to anyone, whether you want to race it or cruise around looking at the spectacular views. I know from experience it has four hills that for me are not even worth trying to run up. I knew I could make the time up on the fast downhills.

As usual Craig and Damien quickly disappeared out of view and I settled to my own battles, me vs the hill. Everything was going well, I knew the 2nd half was elevation loaded and the 1st half went really well, then just as the legs were building for a fast downhill I caught a tree root. I stopped immediately on one knee, the guy behind checking I was ok. I let the pain pass then ran on for a mile on what felt like a numb leg. It all started to work again though pace was not going to be tested on any down hills after that.

Damien and Craig beat the 2 hour mark, I beat last years time and Claudie was 1st in her age group. Will definitely be back – Spencer

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Peterborough 4 Seasons Series 10k – 31 March

With the road race season coming to life (hurrah!) to replace the XC season (double hurrah!), I decided to head east to Peterborough to take part in a 10k around the paths of Nene Park. While the weather had cooled and the wind had picked up a little since last weekend’s Coventry half-marathon, conditions were pretty good for this event.

Billed as a single lap course, it actually circuited around the rowing lake a few times from various approaches with a brief detour into woodland and a 2 mile offshoot to other parts of the park. It was a flat course with PB potential in the absence of wind. However, some of the paths were quite narrow which could make overtaking difficult if part of the main pack as single file running was necessary in a couple of spots.

I realised early on that I’d not be able to maintain a sub-40 pace due to the headwind coupled with tired legs from recent races, so Ilifted off the accelerator a touch and enjoyed trotting round the lakes and putting a marker down to improve on through the season. I’d certainly
return to this well organised event which is run 4 times over the year.    

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Dorney Lake 20-Mile Marathon Prep – 31 March

	Andrew McConville	2:26:54
	Tommy Dempsey	2:32:18	PB

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Temple Newsam Daffodil Dash Marathon – 30 March

Tony Bowe

4:55:09

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GoRun 5k (Coventry Festival of Running) – 24 March

Jeannie Noonan

27:36

1st FV60

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Coventry Half-Marathon – 24 March

	Stuart Lumsden	01:17:17	PB
	Liam Mills	01:19:42	PB
	Damien Dear	01:21:45	PB
	Ben Smith	01:22:58	PB
	Steven Turvey	01:24:07
	Andrew McConville	01:24:48
	Craig Slyde	01:25:22
	Martin Winch	01:26:01
	Chris Goodman	01:27:50	PB
	Lee McKervey	01:27:41	PB
	James Lacey	01:28:16
	Terry Moynihan	01:28:18
	Tommy Dempsey	01:29:50	PB
	Guy Bicknell	01:30:28
	Amanda Deavy	01:31:15
	Pete Stafford	01:31:24	PB
	Jamie Gould	01:31:50	PB
	Martin McHugh	01:31:51	PB
	Mike Wheeler	01:32:42
	Spencer Davies	01:34:46
	Martin Seeley-Davies	01:34:53	PB
	Ian Paterson	01:36:53
	Raghbir Sangha	01:37:09	PB
	Sean Duffy	01:37:46	PB
	Mark Parker	01:38:57	PB
	Richard French	01:39:51
	Kevin Coughlan	01:39:54
	David Halford	01:40:04
	Nav Rai	01:40:01
	Adrian Lowe	01:40:48
	David Mills	01:41:25	PB
	Tom Miller	01:42:31
	Peter Kirkhope	01:42:48
	Sarah Duffy	01:44:05	PB
	Molly Bates	01:44:46
	Adrian Powell	01:44:48
	David Giles	01:46:26
	Katherine Plunkett	01:45:53
	Tony Bowe	01:48:15
	Mark Dalton	01:47:42	PB
	Gemma Ross	01:48:40
	John Murphy	01:48:24
	Catherine Armstrong	01:48:26	PB
	Louise Myers	01:49:51
	Andrew Pitt	01:47:26
	Mike Duggan	01:49:53
	Phil Slater	01:48:23
	Richard Gould	01:50:26
	Eleanor Townsend	01:49:34
	Darron Handley	01:50:31
	Charlotte Mills	01:52:13
	Claudie Combelas	01:51:23
	Fern Kenny	01:51:56
	Lisa Bragg	01:53:33
	Bob Adams	01:54:42
	David Tittle	01:57:28
	Jenny Clark	01:57:41
	John French	01:58:46
	Allison Smith	01:57:09
	Corinna O’Connor	01:57:41
	Caroline Parkinson	01:59:01
	Catherine Shepherd	02:00:45
	Kirstie Murray	02:00:35
	Christopher Perkins	02:05:23
	Leisha Smith	02:04:58
	Pia Singh	02:07:24
	Jo Arden	02:06:47
	Tim Hughes	02:08:40
	Fraser Barret	02:12:43
	Dawn Webb	02:10:13
	Louise Slater	02:12:22
	Sarbjit Sumal	02:13:21
	Verity Crichton	02:16:16
	Rich Cawley	02:20:45
	Sara Phipps	02:20:46
	Chrissie Cooper	02:19:53
	Liane Powell	02:17:47
	Tracey Williams	02:19:42
	Chris Archer	02:25:01
	Linda Richards	02:26:37
	John Gibbons	02:33:08
	Kelly Parker	02:38:49
	Julie Horbury	02:45:17
	Jane Stephens	02:45:18
	Susan Clarke	02:51:23
	Liz Pharoah	02:52:39

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Ashby 20 – 23 March

Natasha White

2:23:29

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Midland Women’s 6-Stage & Men’s 12-Stage Road Relay Championships, Sutton Park – 23 March

 

The Sutton Park relays came around with surprisingly few team changes required. The calenderisation made this event a hard sell but 36 race-hardened Northbrookers brought their best to Sutton Park. Base camp was established and we started to arrive. Great weather on the day made this a nice change to last year.

The men set off first; Stu was on fire from the start and Rich was picking them off from the back, forging his way through the field. But the leader’s pace was at a different level.

Then it was the Women’s turn, with Anita setting out to emulate Stu with a stunning run and Lottie running the hardest she has ever run. Every Northbrooker made sure they gave everything they had on the day and the roars of support when we came up to the finish straight were worth the extra 100 metre sprint.

Most retired to foam rollers, ice baths and recovery for the Cov Half the next day. Thank you for all that came, ran, supported, conquered and put our colours out there on course – Spencer

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Gloucester 20 – 17 March

A very well marshalled course, consisting of 3 laps of mostly countryside, with the odd industrial estate at the start of each lap. Pleasant conditions and not too many hills helped me to a 20 mile PB (although it would have been 5 seconds quicker had they managed to correctly set up my timing chip, meaning I only had gun time to go on…) I guess that’s the price you pay for entering late!

Would still consider going back next year, so wasn’t all bad.

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Notts 20 – 17 March

It was the first time this 20-miler was taking place and you could tell that the organisers had overlooked a few things. After queuing in the full car park for 20 minutes we eventually found somewhere then we needed to find registration, no signs or marshalls in sight. We managed to get to the start line just in time, but I suspect there were a few who weren’t as lucky.

We set off and found ourselves dodging puddles and looking for mile markers which were never to be seen. The first 10 miles had more climbs than anticipated which took it out of my legs, and I soon realised I’d set off too fast and was caught by Katherine at around 15 miles who powered on. I managed to hold on for a sub 3:00 time but know I need to getting better at pacing for future races.

I don’t think I’ll be returning next year as it seems there are better options out there for pre-marathon 20 milers – David

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Stafford Half-Marathon – 17 March

Really really slow. I ran 10k without stopping for the first time post injury (Kenilworth Half) only this week – on a treadmill. To some that doesn’t count. But, I was 6 minutes faster than my disastrous 2 half-marathon runs in 2018 (which were my slowest ever ever). Getting there.

My recovery/rehab/whatever is based on Jeffing. It’s what I always used to do when coming back from a break or injury. Walk intervals with my normal pace running otherwise. No slow running. 5min kms until I need to walk.
So for Stafford I ran until 30 mins, walked 2min at 30mins as I had to take off my top, was stinking hot, got the sleeves in a tangle, 2 min at 40mins (up a mountain) and thereafter 1min every 10ish mins.

Walking around 12 mins in total puts an extra 6 mins on my time so the aim is to slowly reduce the walking.
Jeffing all the way.

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Milton Keynes 20 – 17 March

A 3-lap course, starting at Xscape so great for pre- and post-run coffees and food. The lap goes through nice parks and pathways but also residential areas. Nice and flat apart from the last mile, where there is a sharp incline – Liam

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Milton Keynes Half-Marathon – 17 March

Pia Singh

2:00:51

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Oundle 20 Mile – 17 March

In its second year this is now definitely one for the race calendar – sold out with 430 entries (there were just 200 in 2018). Just an hours’ drive along the A14 into rural Northants, the course follows a scenic route through the gently undulating, wide, quiet country lanes in and around the pretty Norhamptonshire villages of Fotheringay, Nassington, Yarwell and King’s Cliffe.

After the long 2-mile hill at 9 miles the race the course loops South along the line of the Willow Brook and is mostly downhill from there. Saturday’s winds had calmed but were still strong at mile 11’s hill top, however we managed to escape the hail showers that were hitting most of the Midlands.  

All five of us were pleased with our times as we keep a careful eye on next month’s London Marathon – Kevin

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Hardmoors 55 (50) – 16 March

53 miles and 9000+ ft of climbing between Guisborough and Helmsley in the Yorkshire Moors, taking in Roseberry Topping (twice), the Three Sisters, Clay Bank and Sutton Bank.

This year the event was renamed “Hardmoors 55 (50)” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the beautiful Cleveland Way. Last year we endured the beast from the East. This year it was gale force winds and driving rain, but it all just added to the adventure.

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Fission 20:20, 20 Mile – 16 March

53	Paul Stead	2:32:00
60	Martin McHugh	2:33:28
75	Andrew McConville	2:36:40
139	Sarah McNaney	2:49:11
159	Sean Duffy	2:53:08
209	Tony Hughes	3:01:05	3rd MV60
214	Claudie Combelas	3:01:47
310	Corinna O’Connor	3:21:04
365	Katy Davies	3:37:03
366	Anne Hughes	3:37:03

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Draycote Water Half-Marathon – 10 March

	Katherine Plunkett	1:47:59	PB
	Tony Hughes	1:50:16
	Anne Hughes	2:09:52	1st FV60

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Fradley 10k – 10 March

Dawn Webb

56:16

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Larmer Race Weekend – 9 to 10 March

A crazy idea was floated about 4 months to go en-masse to one of Mark’s favourite events. It took off and Northbrook and friends and family descended on an unsuspecting caravan park in Dorset. Friday night was hectic due to us arriving in dribs and drabs, then the drinking/socialising started.

The bar staff were kept busy as we tried to make them walk as far as we all planned to run, and the end of the night was a bit blurry for some of us. Saturday morning was too soon in arriving as we headed in various directions, most to Larmer Gardens and some to the local parkrun. The 10-miler started first and despite me feeling queasy on the start line this was a good run. It was 99% trail, terribly undermeasured (more like 11 mile on the day) but wow. Mark’s stories of the courses were spot on. The hills climbed into the sky and dropped you like a stone to the bottoms of the valleys. The “love” station topped up the beer for most, for some it was a chance to throw up the previous
nights over indulgence (sorry guys).

The half-marathon started an hour later and soon the finishers were coming into sight. Our cheer squad was huge; children, fellow runners, families, friends all ran each of us to the line
to huge cheers. This was great.

Then it was the turn of the dark larmer. This was a nighttime 8-mile run and the girls were nervous but had packed suitable? refreshment. Martin disappeared into the gloom, Danny chasing him. As for me, I could not wait for the beer top up at half way. After the first climb you looked back and
the trail of headlamps chasing was awe inspiring, even if the flocks of sheep seemed to be attracted to my quickly dying headtorch. Then the “love” station arrived; brownies, beer and schnapps. I explained that Martin would not have stopped and got his share as well. Be rude not to.

As I left the station it was obvious my headtorch was brighter if I turned it off. Time to find a fellow runner who was a similar speed. There were two of them with what looked like burning stars on their heads. They kept me and the trail lit right to the end. A short rain storm while we sheltered and then we saw the girls crossing the line, plenty of refreshment on KP’s back still visible. The Saturday night beers were well earned and enjoyed by all who knew their running for the weekend was done.

Sunday saw Sean and the other marathon runners step up. Gale force winds in the jet stream at the top of the climbs, trees downed, power lines down, diversions in place plus hail and rain made sure our sunbursts were putting a shift in. Damien led them home dragging Sean with him. Craig’s calves finally gave out after nearly 4000ft of climbing over the weekend. The powerhouses that are Mark and Claudie churned it out. Then the two wonder women, running their first marathon, with a suitably large support team were seen doing the conga as they approached the finish line.

All finished, all OK and a total of 25 medals for Northbrook over the weekend. With some stunning times for the terrain and even podium age group placings – Spencer

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Draycote Water 10k – 10 March

Richard Sutcliffe

48:42

PB

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Haworth Hobble – 9 March

32 miles and lots of climbing amid the Pennines.

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The Belvoir Challenge 2019, 26 Miles – 3 March

Claudie Combelas

5:19:41

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Newport Half-Marathon – 3 March

	Jamie Gould	1:32:31	PB
	Richard Gould	1:42:12

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Berkhamspead Half-Marathon – 3 March

44

Natasha White

1:28:11

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Centurion Grand Prix 5 Mile, Race 5 – 3 March

Sixteen Northbrookers and two supporters and families headed to Chelmsley Wood for the 5th race in the Centurion Grand Prix series. The weather was cold and rain was due, good conditions and all ran hard.

Mike led us home, he was gunning for first in his age group and achieved it. It was good to see Anita running but she forgot to turn into the finish tunnel so it was a close race for her. The rest of us kept the sunburst appearing as we all finished just as the rain set in.

Another great event, even if my legs did not want to play ball this time – Spencer

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Warwick Half-Marathon – 3 March

	Tony Forde	1:36:05
	Paul Stead	1:38:07
	Andrew Ralph	1:42:45
	David Giles	1:44:45	PB
	John Murphy	1:47:51
	Pia Singh	2:05:27
	Lottie Graham	2:05:38
	Nicole McClelland	2:15:56

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Carding Mill Canter – 2 March

Three of us decided to have a go at something different. The Carding Mill Canter is a fell race at the Long Mynd – it’s a beautiful area of the country with some very steep climbs and drops. We knew it was classified as hard and short but we were still willing to have a go at this new venture.

We panicked over the expected kit check but we were safe in the end. The wind was picking up and we were counted into the pen. This was suddenly very real. A quick check to make sure that everything was strapped on and tight, with our two women supporters encouraging us, a quick safety briefing and it was out to the start.

The first part was deceptively flat and I decided I was going to not even try to keep Damien and Craig in sight. The ford crossing softened the shoes up, then what looked like a cliff face appeared. The first mile had 750+ft of climb. Craig almost fell off the hill as he stepped aside to let someone storm past him. For me this was walking with calves ready to explode and we were still in the first mile!!! Meanwhile the girls were watching the stream of ants climb into the sky above them.

Once we summited the top the wind hit us, driving the rain into our faces. It stung and the strength of the wind made getting your breath very hard. My plan was get to the downhill as soon as possible – it surely had to be easier. It was not, the wind was the only thing holding me upright, my quads were burning and I was praying the wind would keep me upright because I knew my legs would not.

At the half-way point they counted us through again. This was the base of the valley again and back across the river, no wind and surely it had to not be as bad as the first half. Stupid expectations as what followed was 3 climbs with handholds cut into the grass, 3 of them to take us back to the top of the world again. It felt like I was standing in the jet stream. The wind was blowing us sideways when it was possible to run and was deafening to stand in. Now I knew why they insisted on the kit. Then the terrain started to go downhill, gentle at first heading more to the vertical. Quad pain replaced the calf pain, the deafening roar disappeared to a calm quietness with a marshall congratulating us as we crossed the river again. I knew this path now, but the legs were not with me anymore. One more grimace, enjoy the pain, back across the river and the finish was there. I was counted through, Craig was the only one standing there, everyone else was sheltering in the café half a mile away.

This was totally different from anything any of us had done before. It was an eye opener. But, I’d do it again at the drop of a hat – maybe let the legs work first – Spencer

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Welcome Ultra – 2 March

32 miles and 4400 ft of elevation on the Welcome Way trail in Yorkshire. The course starts in Otley and passes through stunning moorland landscapes, alongside rivers and reservoirs, across farmland, through woodland and taking in the Woolpack pub of Emmerdale fame.